Clutch.



. by propeller Specification of lireilzcis fraient.

fa'pplicafion filed July 19m.

erisl No. $62 ,651.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that L SYDNEY l1 P 1 citizen of 'Uniied States, res

"ookl "n, county lliings, snc

slew York, have invonied n n w Elll ug mechanism of 'i'llOi'Ol" cars or ontouioi s.

, general types of clutches designs-(i p: oulnrly for use on motor ZZHFS have here-- iofoi'e heen'in common use, Une i'ype in clinics a femalecone clinch roemher c 'iecl hy 2 nd counting with or fOlll'llllfi 1 pnri of the Wheel oi? an inlci'i ii conil'n 'on nio on i also includes a cooperating; male .e L11 tch member 1 llzilishlo Willi the transssion shazia and movable in anal on; of eneuoent with the other clutch meinhei. .he other type inchicles qv series oi friction disks zil cinni'eiy carried by a driving; clutch member which leri'ves motion from an internal combustion inoiotr and by a driven clu vch member which aclspiccl to comic n a lzi'snsiuission shaft. lin both i "s ihe driving it' lcl;ion of the chi ch members oust he snliicieni to transmit the maximum mwor of the motor wichout any slip of he lutch members; otherwise control. of motion of the cm. under maximum power 21ml maximum load would be lost.

Two general types of dii'ivinp; i'nechanisin for motor cars or automobiles have hereto fol-o been in common use. in one type What is known as ihe transmission gearing; than; is to sny, the gearing by means of which the relatij e speed of the motor shaft and of (he driving axle is varied, is mounted upon the chassis of the car with its main elemeuiv in. alincment Wiih the motor crank shaft. lin the other type, the corresponding ironsniission gearing is carried by ihe rear axle adjacent the diil ercnlial gearing and is not supported by the chassis. In the lafl'cr type the position of she transmission "rm-lug}; "1- iii l IDOC'L he the (aims is consisniii wiry whi cm is in ope. In this type also the ii'snsmiss on gem 1.1" is i nn iich (:iQIiVQS its motion from the crank shell: of the nioloi' and which. must he mountecl in such manner to permit VZHlfiIilOR in its singularity with respeci lo the axis of the motor era-ill: shafr. This oralinm'lly effectecl through "the agency of universal ioinl: connecting the mi seller u 'lflilill with a short shaft operated li one of {he ch members. in my copcnilinf filed April 13, 1912, l i a, clutch. member is dis adapted to be used in conneciion with the first type of driving mechanism ohm i'nenliionedl The nt invention l'elaics more parcuisrly to i, .e second. type of driving mechanism shove referred i0, 01 in .ofher Words, to the type in uoich the singularity of the W crank shaft and of the propeller shafi "the motor cncl the transmission c e min oli iec are the smne as the main objects of the in- Yflllillfil'l iiiscli ed in he application shove I! ed to, 21ml reference is made o the sin npphcsiion ior a full cllsclosui'e of said ohjcois sun l'hs general means whereby they are csi'i'ied 'JTili'O effect The object of the present invention,

apart from olojeciis above mentioned, is the production (lo "ice of the general character disclosed in the above application, hut which is designed so that the Various elements of the clutch Will automatically a. nine varying relaii've positions, which posi ions are controlled by the irregularities of ihe X'Uzlfl over which the cm: carrying the device is running, 01' ii any variations in load which may occur, or by hoih.

flll'iillel object of the present invention is the pi'ocinction of a device of the character just mentioned, in which provision is made for longitudinal i'noveinenr oil the propeller shaft clue to [he constantly changing position of die driving axle relative to the chas With this and other objects not specifically mentioned in View the invention consisi's in cerlsin con notions ancl combinations l lieleinsiter fully, described and North the claims herell: the eccom ving diawings, which iorni n purl of is oi. ihe present invention face 2, which view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and Fig. 2 is a tragrnentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and having certain parts 5 omitted.

. therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described. In the device selected to illustrate the invention, 1 indicates a motor driven member carrying an annular frictional driving sur surface is the inner periphery of a female cone clutch member 8. The motor driven member is supported and ro tated by means of a drivingshat't 4, having a tail 5 projecting beyond the hub of the motor driven member and having its extremity somewhat reduced in diameter. This motor driven member 1 and driving shaft- 4 may be respectively the flywheel and the crank shaft of an internal combustion motor, not shown but located to the left of Fig. 1. A transmission or propeller shaft is provided, which is adapted to transmit motion from the motor driven member 1 to transmission gearing and other transmission mechanism not shown but located at the right in Fig. 1. This shaft has a squared forward end 6, and a cylindrical rear end- 7 extending toward the transmission gearing.

There is further provided a two-part articulated clutch member generally indicated by the reference numeral 8, and which is interposed between the motor driven member 1 and the transmission shaft 6-'?. This clutch member 8 is provided-with an annular frictional driving surface 9, adapted to cooperate with the frictional driving surface 2 before referred to.v This surface 9 is the suitable material. said ring being securely fastened to the ,rim 11 of a member 12 located in close proximity to the motor driven member 1 before referred to. This member clutch member, and the frictional driving contact of the surfaces 2 and 9 is sufficient when fully engaged to cause the clutch mem her 8 to be rotatedwithout slip under any load. For the reason that the surfaces 2 and 9 operate primarily to transmit motion from the motor driven member 1 to the transmission shaft 6-7 and for the further reason that the clutch member 8 has additional frictional driving surfaces, said surfaces 2 and 9 may be termed primary frictional driving surfaces.

The clutch member 8 includes the member 12 and a sleeve 13 articulated with and ex- -mcans of a gland outer surface of a ring 10 of leather or other 12, with the ring 10, forms a male cone roac es from the center of said a variable angle to the diamet ical planes of the surface 9. The articulatedconnection of the member 12 with the sleeve 13 is efiected by'means or" a ring 1% having lly disposed tending rearwardly member 12 and at two diametri studs 15-15 and two diametrically disposed studs 16-46, the studs 15-15 and the studs 16-16 being at right angles to each other. The studs 15-15 engage journal boxes 1T-17 bolted to a head 18 formed on one end of the sleeve 13 before mentioned. The studs 16 16 engage journal boxes 19-19 bolted to ribs 20 projecting from a plate 21, which plate secured to the member 12 by means of a series of bolts 22. The plate 21 is further provided with hub 23 which is iournaled upon the reduced end of tie tail shaft 5 before referred to and is adapted to slide and rotate thereon. The shatt 4 5 forms a common support for the driving clutch member 1 and the articulated driven clutch member 8.

For the purpose of excluding and retaining a lubricant within between the hub 23 and the read sleeve 13, there is provided a metal cap 2% which is held in place means of the bolts 22, and which carries an annular packing ring 25 engaging the spherical outer surface of the head 18. It may be here remarked that the space within the cap 2 t is packed with lubricant so that it will not require attention for a long period.

At a point near its rear end, the sleeve 13 is reduced in diameter and in this reduce portion there is iormed bearing 26 within 18 oi the which the cylindrical portion of the transmission or propeller shaft 6--(' is adapted to rotate and slide. For the purpose 0; preventing lubricant within the sleeve trcm es caping at the rear end thereof, there is proring 27 held. in place by vided a packing 28 of well-known con struction.

The sleeve 13 is provided with an internal thread 29, the operating face of which confrlctlonal surrace carf stitutes a secondary ried by the clutch member. There is further provided what may be termed a transmission member, consisting of a worm 3%. having an external thread 31, the operating face of which constitutes what may be termed a secondary frictional surface. This secondary surface cooperates with the thread or secondary frictional surface 29 of clutch member. The length of the sleeve and the pitch or the worm are designed to permit several revolutions-oi the sleeve on the worm while the latter is traveling from one extreme position to the other. The transmission mem: her or worm 30 is provided with a central squared aperture engaging the squared end 6 or the transmission or propeller shaft 6--7, so that said transmission member is always rotatable with'and is slidable upon said transmission or propeller shaft.

A pressure device is provided which bears against a thrust bearing 32 housed Within the sleeve 13, and also engages the trans mission member or vorm 30. This pressure device consists of a spring 33 coiled around the squared end of the traiismissiohshaft. The pressure device is adap't edtto hold the secondary frictional surfaces; in contact under sufficient pressure to prevent slipping of said secondary surfaces under normal load,- and is adapted to permit relative slip of said secondary surfaces for axplurality of turns under a load above normal. It is to he understood that the spring 33 is de signed to produeethe desired result when used with a motor of a given power and car of a given Weight and thht, when "the, power and Weight are differentta- (lilferent; spring must be used, By an inspection of Fig. 1, it Will he observed that the internal thread of the sleeve is left-handed and that the s tting coiled right-handed. This is to prevent the possibility of the turn of the spring catching on the edge of the tl read during compression. it may be here remarked that what. is meant herein by the in normal load is the load on the moof the car under normal running conditions; that is to sayfitvhen the ear is running along}; at a moderate speed on a level road, v 1

it a-"ill be readily understood that when the motor ivetn member 1 and the clutch member 8 begin to rotate in locked engagement While the transmission or propeller shaft 6 not rotating, and also when the motor driven member 1 and the clutch member 8 are rotating faster than the transmission shaft 6-7, the transmission memher 30 will be caused to move rearwartlly and compress the spring 33, which in turn will progressively increase the friction of the secondary surfaces and thereby progressively increase the torque and speed of the transmission or propeller shaft, If the overload at the moment is not great, the load will be picked up'an'd the transmission shaft 6! will acquire the same speed as the motor driven member 1 before the spring 33 is completely compressed, and before the transmission member has reached the limit of movement. If, however, the overload great, the transmission member Will travel to the limit of its movement and the transmission shaft 57 will then be 'positively rotated by the clutch member 8. After the desired speed of the transmission shaft; 6-7 is reached, necessity for the degree of power iqe uired to reach this speed ceases and the apply of gas may then be throttled slightly to cause the not or to develop only the power car momentarily maintains the ruequmed speed of the transmission shaft 6*l This produces a reverse action of the sleeve 13 and the worm 30, and this reverse action returns the worm lIOll'S normal posit-ion at the forward end of the sleeve; that is, the position shown in Fig. l. The power of the tln'ottletl motor being: sutiicient to keep the our in motion at normal speed, or What is herein termed under normal load, and the pressure device being adapted to prevent slipping of the secondary surfaces under normal load, the car will go on with the parts in position as shown in if explosions. This results in increu ed stresses, suddenly apn ted. Under the' conditioiis, the plCStHit device permits motor to make several revolution at a s higher than. the s eed shaft (3 7, while itpower and While it lr" it ing the speed of the car. The device acts case as \vel. as when the 05; is st the Worm is returned to normal pos u. when the increased speed desired in precisely the some manner be A screw plug 3. is threaded in 1.3 and has for object the e opening'in the wall or the sleev which oil or other lubricant ma cluced into the inte ior of the etc \3 or drained therefrom. 1i small quantity of lubricant: within the sleeve l3 will be carried to all the Wearing surfaces within the sleeve by the rotation. of the same, and since it cannot; escape from the sleeve, the no i for frequent lubrication elimina v Means are provided for irodueing a bodilyiuoven'ient of the clutch member c3 toward-and away from the primary frictional driving surface in order to throw the clutch member in and out of sn ment with the motor driven n'ieinher. means includes a spring 23% interposed be tween the hub of the motor driven niember l and a'plate 35, which plate fol-ins a part of a thrust hearing surroiniding the reduced (11d o f the tail shaft 5 and limit-lug a lust the plate 2t. interposed between the 35 and the plate is an annular r 1 leather or other suitable mate. n

wvill retain. a lubricant; in and around this thrust hearing. The spring ti l normally slowin ill) rearward,

. forward side of this lever operates to move the clutch member bodily and to hold the primary frictional driving surfaces 2 and 9 in driving contact.

Manually operated means are provided for throwing the primary frictional driving surfaces out of engagement. Ithis means consists of aforlted lever 38, which straddles the transmission or propeller shaft h at the rear of the sleeve 13 and bears against a thrust bearing: 39. which in turn ears against the gland 28 before referred to. By

an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the fork of the permit a limited angular variation of the position of the transmission or propeller shaft 6 7. it will be further seen that the is curved in an are which has its center at the center of oscillation of the articulation of the clutch members 12 and 13, so'that variation in the position of shaft G-'T will not-alter the po sition of the lever 38. This lever is supported by"a fulcrum it), which may be a bar extending across the chassis, or which ma be of any other form or otherwise mounted if desired. The lever operated by means of a connecting rod consisting of two sections 41 and 4-2, which sections are unitet by means of an adjusting turnbuckle 43, the. section 42 being pivoted at 4A to the upper end of the lever 38. The upper part of the lever carries a pad 45 which is socurely fastened thereto and which is constructed of leather or other suitable material. This pad is adapted to come in con tact with a flange 46 formed on the extreme rear end of the sleeve 1 when the lever is operated to throw the clutch out (if-engagement. By an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that this pad 45 is normally out of contact with the flange 46; when the lever is operated, however, the pad moves through a longer are than that part of the lever engaging the thrustbearing 89 and consequently overtakes the flange 46 and acts as a brake'thereon after the surfaces 2 and 9 are thrown out of contact. This braking action is desirable for the reason that whenever it is engaged down before the gears gagement.

In view of the foregoing, a detailed description of the operation of the device is deemed unnecessary and is therefore omitted in the interest of brevity.

hat is claimed is:

l. The combination with a motor driven member having a frictional driving surface. of a transmission shaft, a two-part articulated clutch'member interposed between said motor driven me iber and said shaft, one o the parts of sai clutch member having a clutch member should are thrown into enlever 38 is long enough to desired to change gears, the disi be slowed t l l l ,tional primary frictional with the frictional her to be rotated without slip under any.

load, the other part of said clutch member having a secondary frictionalsurface, a transmission member rotatable with the transmission shaft and having a coiiperating secondary frictional surface, a pressure evice engaging said clutch member and said transmission member and adapted to hold the secondary surfaces in contact under sufficient pressure to prevent clipping of said surfaces under normal load and adapt-- ed to permit a relative slip of said surfaces for a plurality of turns under a load above normal, and means for producing a bodily movementof said clutch member toward and away from the motor driven member. 2. The combination with a motor driven member having a frictional driving surface, of a transmission shaft, a two-part articulated clutch member including a universal joint and an oil-tight case therefor interposed between said motor driven member and said shaft, one of the parts of said clutch member having a primary frictional driving surface cotiperating with the fricdriving surface of the motor driven member when fully engaged therewith to cause the clutch member to be rotated without slip under any load, the other part of said clutch member having a secondary frictional surface, a transmission member rotatable with the transmission shaft and having a cooperatin secondary frictional surface, a pressure evice engaging said clutch member and said transmission member and adapted to hold the secondary surfaces in contact under sufficient pressure to prevent sli ipin of said surfaces under normal load and adapted to surfaces for a plurality of turns undera load above normal, and means ing a bodily movement of said clutch member toward and away from the motor driven member. l

3. The combination with a 'motor driven member having a frictional driving surface, of a transmission shaft, a twopartarticulated clutch member interposed bet-ween said motor driven member and said shaft, one o the parts of said clutch member havihg a primary frictional driving surface coperating with the frictional driving surface 0 the motor driven member when fully onaged therewith to cause the her to be rotated without slip under any permit a relative slip of said for produc clutch m'em:

load, the other part of said clutch member;-

having a secondary common support for the motor her and one part of the-articulated clutch member, a transmission member rotatable frictional surface, a. driven memedriving and })i'()jt"(ll1;l beyond .tor driven member, a ranmniseion shaft,

on the projecting end ot the driving slit.

with the transmission shaft and hating a. cooperating secondary frictional enrfacii. a pressure device engaging said elnteh member and said tTtlIlSll'liSdlUIl lllelllllel. and adapted to hold the secondary sin-laces in Contact under sntlicient pressure to prevent I 5 member toward and away from the motor drrven member.

slipping of said surfaces under normal load and adapted to permit a relative elip ot said surfaces for a plurality 01" tnrns under a load abo e, normal, and inc-am tor pro (lacing a bodily movement (it said elntrn member toward and a ray from the motor driven member.

-l. The combination with a motor driven member l'n'rving a Frictional drivine Slit- I atn ot a drixrin eanppin'tiin the ilmtional driving snrl'aee ot the motor tll'l't'tjll member when fully engaged therewith to "arise the clutch member to be rotated without slip under any load and being etrpported the other part; of said clutch member hat ingasecondary frictional enrl ace, a trans mission member rotatable with the tram mission shaft and having a coilp n ondary frictional snrtace a pree ure engaging; said clutch membe and eztid iit'ilihrto bold the mission member and ada secondary surfaces in co tinder cient pressure to prevent; eiippingg of .s t surfaces under normal load and. adqrvted to permit a relative slip of: enrta for a plurality of turns under a load above nor mal, and means for prodneing a bodily movement of said clutch meniiber tow and a\ ay from the motor driven member.

The combination with a motor driven member having a frictional dririi snrfeee, of a t'ansmiesitm shaft, a two-1 'icnlated clutch member interposed between said motor driven member and said shaft, one of the parts of said'clutch member having a primary frictional thriving s: rtace oooperating with the frictional dr 11g surface of the motor driven member Wh it fully engaged therewith to cause the clutch member to be rotated without; slip under any load and being rotatable in the 321 0 plane as the motor driven ine'mliier, the other part. of said clutch member havin. a secondary frictional eurt'a'e and being re"- to rotate on a swinging axis, a transnr rotatable with the transmis on sh: and havinga cooperating; secondary lrirtional s nrface; a pressure device en a 'ing said clutch member and said transnn on mem bet and adapted to hold the secondary sur- .,ioi1 member faces in contact under sn'llicient pressure to prevent slipping of said snrl'aeee under normal load and adapted to permit a relative slip oi said surfaces for a plurality of turns tunler a l ad above normal, and means for producing a bodily movement of said elntch (3. The combination with a motor driven member having a frictional driving surface, of a transmission shalt, a twonnit articulated clutch member interposed between said motor driven member and Said sha'lft, one all the pat 1 aid clutch nfeinber having; a primary t'rietienal driving surface cooperwith the frictional driving Snrtace oil motor driven. member when fully en erewith to cause the clutch member rotated WilillOlli slip under any load 'otatalde in the 5111MB plane a the motor driven member, the other part: ol lid clutch member having an internal secondary Ii lltfll llfllgflli't iltt and being free to rotate on a awinp ii axis, a transmis-ssston memler rotatable \vitn the transmission shaft within the wringing; part of said clutch men: er and baring;- u cooperating seeoinlary trietional ain't-ace a pressure device engaging need be a nd helm:

said clutch member and said tranxmission l". The combinz'ition with a motor driven 'membcr having a .trietional driving onr'l'ace,

of a ti. lSllllSSiOIl shatt, a two-part artien lated clutch member interposed between rial-4i motor driven. member and said shell,

parts of said clutch member having a primarv frictional drivin sort-ace C0-- ope'ati wit" the ttf'rictional driving lain)- i'ace of the motor driren member when. tally engaged therewith to cause the clutch 1nemher to be rotated without slip under any load and-being rotatable in the same plane as the motor driven member: the other part: of said clutch member barring an it 'ernal secondary frictional surface and 'eine tree to rotate on a swinging an a t ansl sion member rotatable with the transmi on shaft \vithin tbe swinging of said illlttfli member and havin v cooperatin eemnlar x trirtional surface, a pressure (it. :e engag in raid rlutich. member and said l,1':tll5lllii+ stun member and adapted to hold the so:

- snrit'aces in contact tinder sullic'ent pr one to prevent slipping of sale Slll'littCQS tinder normal load and adapted to permit a relative slip of said snrreces tor a plularity, and, means for producing a bodily emeese s under a load above normal, In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to the speclficatlon 1n 'the presence 0 two subscribing Witnesses.

k YDNEY I. PRESCQTT.

rali'hy of turn said transmission shaft and 53151 transmlssion member being relatively longitudinally movable irrespective of rmbation. and angu- Witnesses:

FRANK H. VIGK, J12,

movement 0': sand clutch member toward ELIZABETH L. RUSSELL.

and away from the meter firiven member. 1 

